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2 Sheets-Sheet '1.'

(No Model.)

o. H. BGBY.- TIME LAMPLIGHTER.

Patented Mr. 2, v1897.

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j UNTTED STATES PATENT OEErCE.'

COLQUITT H. BIGBY, OF BOYD, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO Y W. T.HUDGENS, OF SAME PLACE.

TIM E-LAM PLIG HTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,282, dated March 2,1897.

Application filed November 27, 1896. Serial No. 613,598. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t Wtwyconoern:

Be it known that I, COLQUITT H. BIGBY, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Boyd, in the county of Miller and State of Arkansas, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Lamplighter, of which the followingis a specication.

This invention relates to automatic lamplighting contrivancesto be usedin connection with a timepiece or clock movement of any pattern torelease the operating mechanism at a predetermined time tov eect thelighting of a lamp or other illuminating device. Combined with theigniting devices is an alarm mechanism which gives an audible signal toawaken the sleeper and give notice that the time for which the alarm wasset has arrived.

Lamps are generally provided with chimneys to obviate smoking andincrease the illumination, and in order that the apparatus may be usedwith lamps so equipped it is provided With a chimney-.holder which isconstructed either to hold the chimney elevated and lower the same afterthe lamp has been lighted or to elevate the chimney to permit thelighting of the lamp and subsequently place the chimney in properposition,

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription. A

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof,- and to afull disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of alamp-lighting device constructed in accordance with this invention, thedoor being removed and parts of the easing broken away. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 show a topplan view of the appara- A tus and the match-carrying arm in differentmechanism for controlling the descent of the chimney-holder.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the accompanyingdrawings by the same reference-characters.

The actuating mechanism is located within a box or casing 1 of suitabledesign and size to comfortably receive it and consists of a train ofgearing 2 of ordinary construction, such as generally provided for thealarm mechanism for clocks and other timepieces. The alarm-bell 3 issounded by means of a hammer 4, vibrated from the train of gearing inany of the usual ways, and the hammer has connected therewith an arm 5,which is engaged by means of a lever 6 when it is required to hold thetrain of gearing in check, and this lever 6 is thrown out of the path ofthe arm 5 by a clock or timepiece after the manner of releasing theusual alarm mechanism applied thereto. The train of gearing isspring-actuated and is wound in the man. ner generally required by thealarm mechanisinof a timepiece, and when liberated the trainof gearingis set in motion and sounds the alarm and operates the igniting devices.

A crank 7 is connected with an arbor ineluded in the train of gearingand operates in the space formed by bending the end portion' of an arm8, secured to a rock-shaft 9 and pendent therefrom. Arod 10 is securedabout midway of its ends to the rock-shaft 9, and its terminal portions11 and 12 are bent about at right angles and operate through openings inthe top of the easing for the purpose presently to be described.

When the train of gearing is in operation, the rock-shaft 9 isoscillated in its bearings and therod 10 is vibrated, so as toalternately project and withdraw the bent ends 11 and 12.

A shaft 13 is journaled vertically within the casin g and its upper endprojects beyond the top thereof and is provided with a ratchetwheel 14.and carries an arm 15, which is loosely mounted thereon and is providedwith a spring-dog 16, whose free end engages with the teeth of theratchet-wheel 14, whereby the shaft and arm are caused to move togetherin one direction and whereby provision is had for turning the shaft inan opposite direction IOO without moving the arm for the purpose ofwinding a spring 17, of the volute type, having one end secured to theshaft and its other end to a part of the casing. The arm 15 carriesamatch 18, thelatter being thrust through an opening 19, formedvertically in the outer end of the arm. 15 and held therein by a spring20, which bears laterally against the match and crowds it against thesides of the opening 19 with sufficient force to retain it in placeunder normal conditions. The bent ends 1.1 and 12 form stops to limitthe throw of the arm 15, whereby the latter is prevented from swingingaround in a circle and subserving no useful purpose. The inner stop 12holds the arm 15 in a starting position and the outer stop 11 limits thesweep of the arm after the match has been ignited, so as to hold it inposition to light the lamp 21. As the stop 12 descends, so as to releasethe arm 15, the stop 11 correspondingly rises, so as to engage with thearm 15 and properly position it for lighting the lamp.

A plate 22 has pivotal connection at one end with the casing and isformed on-its top side with an abrading or roughened surface to ignitethe match as the latter is swept thereover, and to insure frictionalengagement between the match and the abrading surface of the plate thelatter is slightly elevated at its free end by means of a spring 23,which latter yields as the match is swept over the plate. A pin or stop24 limits the upward movement of the plate.

The chimney-holder consists of a bar 25, having a ring or band 26 at oneend to encircle and grip the chimney 27 and having pivotal connection atits opposite end with the casing, and this bar is formed with an arch 28at its pivotal end to afford clearance for the match- 1S as the latteris swept by the holder to light the lamp. A wire 29 is attached to thebar25 and extends laterally therefrom a short distance and is bent toextend parallel therewith and has an arched portion 30, corresponding ito the arch 28, and the opposite end of the wire is bent at right anglesand forms the pivotal support upon which the chimney-holder turns. Awheel 31 is secured to the projecting end of the wire 29 or to thepivotal support of the chimney-holder, and a spring 32 bears against thewheel 3l to prevent the too rapid descent of the chimney when the latteris lowering upon the lamp. A bracket-support 33 has pivotal connectionwith the casing and can be turned so as to come beneath the wire 29 andhold the chimney-holder and chimney elevated when the apparatus is set,so as to support the chimney at a distance above the lamp, and as thearm moves to a normal position after lighting the lamp it sweeps thebracket-support from beneath the wire 29 and permits the chimney-holderand chimney to descend, the. parts being so arranged that the chimneywill settle upon the gallery of the burner.

The stop 11 is so arranged as to engage with the chimney-holder andelevate the latter and the chimney as the stop 12 descends to releasethe match-carrying arm 15. Hence when the match-carrying arm 15 isreleased the chimney is lifted, and as the arm swings around the match18 is ignited by frictional contact with the abrading-surface of theplate 22 and is properly positioned by the arm 15 engaging with the stop11, thereby igniting the lamp, and as the train of gearing continues tooperate the stop 11 will be lowered and the stop 12 elevated, therebyreleasing the matchcarrying arm and lowering the chimney-holder andchimney, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In alamp-lighting appliance, the combination of a spring-actuated shaft, amatchcarrying arm attached thereto, a rock-shaft provided withoppositely-disposed stops to alternately engage with the match-carryingarm and check its movement, and actuating mechanism for the rock-shaft,substantially as set forth.

2. In a lamp-lightingapparatus, the combination of a rotatable shaft, amatch-carrying arm attached to the said shaft, a rock-shaft, a rodsecured to the rock-shaft intermediate of its ends and having itsterminal portions bent to provide stops, and actuating mechanism foroperating the rock-shaft to alternately project and withdraw the saidstops from the path of the match-carrying arm, substantially asspecified.

3. In an apparatus for lighting lamps, the combination of a shaft, anactuating-spring having connection with the shaft for turning thelatter,a ratchet-wheel applied to the shaft, a match-carrying armloosely mounted upon the said shaft and provided with a dog to engagewith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, stops for limiting and properlypositioning the match-carryin g arm, and actuating mechanism for thestops to alternately project and withdraw them from the path of thematchcarrying arm, substantially as set forth.

, 4E. In an apparatus for lighting lamps, the combination with theigniting devices, of a chimney-holder, means for elevating and loweringthe chimney-holder, a wheel applied to the pivotal or axial support ofthe chimneyholder, and a device engaging frictionally with the wheel forcontrolling` the descent of the chimney-holder and chimney,substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

5. In an apparatus for lighting lamps, the

combination of a match-carrying arm, stops for limiting the throw andproperly positioning the m atch-carryin g arm, a chimney-holder raisedand lowered by means of one of the said stops, and actuating mechanismfor movpath of the match-carrying arm, and whereby upon releasing thematch-carrying arm a see-- 1o turned aside to permit the descent of thechimney by means of the match-carrying arm, substantially as set forth.

In testimonythatl I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

COLQUITT H. BIGBY.

Witnesses:

J. H. MCLAIN, C. B. GARRIsoN.

